BSc Accounting and Finance

Programme requirement: GCSE pass at grade A or above in Mathematics, or A level at grade A or above in Mathematics (or equivalent). No specific subjects are required at A level, although candidates normally have A level Mathematics (or equivalent). Candidates offering A level(s) in the humanities are encouraged to apply. Those candidates who do not have A level Mathematics (or equivalent) should be prepared to develop their mathematical skills, and will be provided with support including tailored first year courses in mathematics and statistics

One option from a list including options in accounting, finance, economics, management, business statistics, commercial law or an outside option

Please read the following important information before referring to full details of course options found in the Programme Regulations|.

You must note however that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, some circumstances may cause the School to subsequently change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to circumstances outside of its control. You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee places on its courses. You should visit the School’s Calendar|, or contact the relevant academic department, for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the updated undergraduate course and programme information| page.

Programme details

First year

The first year specialist introductory course, Elements of Accounting and Finance, will bring you into contact with students from other departments who can take it as an option. The aim of the course is to introduce students to the preparation, uses and limitations of accounting information and to some issues in finance and investment. Economics B is an introductory course in microeconomics and macroeconomics. Your choice of quantitative methods courses will depend on your background in mathematics and statistics. Choose from Probability and Statistics for the Social Sciences, a basic foundation in elementary statistical methods, theory and statistical reasoning, or Quantitative Methods (Mathematics) which develops the basic mathematical tools necessary for further study in economics and related disciplines and Quantitative Methods (Statistics) which develops elementary statistical tools necessary for further study in management and economics or Elementary Statistical Theory which provides a precise treatment of introductory probability theory, statistical ideas, methods and techniques. You choose either Mathematical Methods (which must be taken if you have selected Elementary Statistical Theory), an introductory level course for those who wish to use mathematics seriously in social science, or in any other context, or Basic Quantitative Methods which is designed to provide students who do not have A level mathematics or equivalent with the elementary mathematical tools that are needed to study economics. You may be able to choose one of your first year courses as an outside option from a wide range taught in other departments in subject areas including anthropology, computing, economic history, geography, law, mathematics, philosophy, politics, psychology and sociology.

If you have not studied A level Mathematics (or equivalent), you will be required to take courses in mathematics and statistics to give you access to more options in years two and three. This means you will not be able to take an outside option in your first year.

Second year

There are two core accounting and finance courses in the second year. Managerial Accounting focuses on planning and control in organisations and operational and strategic decision-making, including an assessment of emerging topics. Principles of Finance examines companies' longer term investment decisions, and the ways in which these may be financed in the financial markets. You take a further course in economics, either Microeconomic Principles or Macroeconomic Principles. These are intermediate courses in microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis.

You will select a fourth course from a range of options. Management related options include Organisational Theory and Behaviour and Operational Research Methods. Business statistics options include Introduction to Econometrics. Alternatively, you may choose another approved course. If you wish to gain exemptions from professional accountancy examinations you will normally need to take Commercial Law as an option.

Third year

A compulsory core course, Financial Accounting, Analysis and Valuation, provides an insight into the theory and practice of corporate financial reporting to investors and other interested parties. You take two further accounting and finance courses, one in accounting and one in finance, in your third year. These are chosen from either Management Accounting, Financial Management and Organizational Control (cost management and planning and control practices in complex organisations), or Auditing, Governance and Risk Management (the theory and practice of auditing, its role in corporate governance and risk management, and its legal and social environment), either Corporate Finance, Investments and Financial Markets (corporate finance, investments and performance evaluation and international finance), or Quantitative Finance (asset pricing, risk management, financial forecasting and derivatives pricing). Your fourth course allows you to take a further paper in accounting and finance, or to choose a subject from a wide range offered by other LSE departments.

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